Leather-measuring machine



- 1,619,143 March 1 1927. R. J. MCFALL LEATHER MEASURING MACHINE Filed Aug- 24 ,v 1925 2 sheetAs-sneetl y QWGQQM @L March l 19127.

R. J. MUFALL LEATHER MEASURING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1923 llUlllll Il Il II Ill Il Il lll ll-n-m 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UitiiTED STATES ROBERTS'. VMCFALL, OF 'AMHERSR MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER-MEASURING 'MACHINE Application filed August 24, 1923.

This inventionrrelates to measuring machines of the general type shown and `described in my prior application -iiled Decem ber 2, 1921, Serial No. 519,501, and designed particularly for the purpose of measuring the irregular surfaces of such articles or materials as hides, skins, leather, etc.

The machine shown in saidprior application comprises measuring mechanism whereby a hide o-r the like passed through the machine is theoretically divided into a series of strips of equal width and whose length is measured, together with totalizing or cumulating mechanism by means of which the areas of the strips so measured are totalized to obtain Vthe total area of the'hide. The measuring mechanism comprises means for feeding the hide through the machine, together with cont-act mechanism comprising a series of contact members or devices arranged transverse of the machine and a'dapted'tobe actuated by the hide as it is fed through the machine, 'the number of contact devices so actuated depending upon the width of the hide, and the consequent number of strips into which it is divided, and the period of actuation of the several contact devices depending upon the length of said strips respectively. The .totalizing' mechanism comprises a series of cumulating members corresponding in number to `the contact 'devices and controlled thereby, respectively, in such a manner as to cause each cumulating member to be operated during the period of actuation of the corresponding contact member, said cumulating members being so connected as to cause the totals corresponding to the extent of operation of the several cumulating members kto be accumulated into a grand tota-l representing the area of the entire hide. A

In the machine shown in said prior applis cation, the connections between the several contact members and the respective cumulating members comprise electrical devices,

whereby, upon actuation of the contact members, circuits are clo-sed to electromagnets which control the operation of the cumulating members. r

The present invention has for an object to simplify the mechanism shown inlsaid prior application by the elimination of said electric devices and the substitution therefor of ldirect and simple mechanical connections betwen the cumulating devices and the contact members, whereby the operation of serial No. 659,107.

the former is controlled by the actuation of the latter. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved contact member and contact carrier therefor particularly adapted for use in connection with the mechanical controlling devices above mentioned to produce accurate results. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cumulating mechanism whereby the capacity and accuracy of the machineare increased. A still further object of the invention is to improve, simplify, cheapen and lighten the feeding means forming a part of the measuring mechanism.

The foregoing and other 'objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from 'the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claii is hereunto appended, may be otherwise practiced without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. lis a diagrammatic front elevation of substantially the complete machine.

Fig, 2 is a sectiontalren substantially on the lines`22, Figs. 1 and 3, and on a scale somewhat larger than that of Fig. 1, illustrating the connections between one of ythe contact devices and the corresponding cumulating member.

Fig. 3 is a section on a further enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the cumulating mechanism, the scale being somewhat larger than that of Fig. 2 but smaller than that of Fig. 3.

The feeding mechanism comprises a `bed roll 410 ywhich extends transversely of the machine and is journalled at its en'ds in up rights11 constituting they ends of the machine frame.

Said bed roll is suitably driven from any convenient source of power, as by a belt or chain 12 (Fig. 2). Cooperating with the bed roll-10 is a series of pressure rolls or disks .13, each of which comprises a sheet metal (preferably steel) stamping consisting of two dished members placed back to back to form a web portion and a peripheral llt) rim or flange adapted to bear u on the material as it passes over the bed rol Each pressure roll or disk is journalled on a stud 14 carried by a pair of arms 15 suitably shaped to embrace the rim of the roll and pivotally mounted to swing upon a rod 16 supported at its ends in the uprights 11 and disposed parallel to the bed roll 10. The arms 15 are connected by springs 1T with a second transverse rod 18 disposed parallel to the rod 1G and also supported at its ends in the uprights 11. This construction is a very light and inexpensive one, while providing for the requisite pressure upon the leather over a sutlicient area to spread the material out flat and insure the necessary traction, during the passage ot' said material over the bed roll, to prevent slipping and insure the accuracy of the result.

Between adjacent pressure rolls or disks 13 the hed roll 1() is formed with circumferential grooves 19 with which coojfierate the contact devices, designated as a whole in Fig. 1 by the numeral 2t). As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, each contact device coiiiprises a contact member i211 and a contact carrier 22. Each contact carrier Q2 comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the rod 1t and the rear end ot which is connected by a spring 23 with the rod lt. Said lever is substantially U-shaped in cross section for the major portion oi its length, but is formed with a .spoon-shaped forward end which is pressed against the bed roll 10, or against the upper surface of a hide passing over the latter, by the spring 23. Each contact member 21 comprises a second lever located bctiween the side flanges ot' the lever Q2 and pivoted thereto at a -ioint 24 eccentric to the rod 18 and prefer. ly between the latter and the work. At its forward end the lever 21 is formed with a contact tip or point 25 which projects through a suitable opening in the forward spoon-shaped end of the lever 22, and is normally received in the corresponding groove 19 in the bed roll 10. The rearend of the lever 21 is located closely adjacent the rod 18, which constitutes the fulorum of the lever 22, and secured to said rear end of the lever Q1 closely adjacent or innncdiately above said fulcrum is the lower end of a link 26, which constitutes the connection between the contact member and` the corresponding cumulating member through which the latter is controlled by said contact member, i as hereinafter described.

The hides are ted through the machine in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 2, and as the portion of the edge of a hide opposite any particular contact device engages the spoon-shaped end of the contact carrier of said device, said contact carrier will be lifted to the surface ot' the work, turning about the rod 1S and carrying with it the contact member 21 Without, however, turning the latter upon its pivot Q11. When the edge of the hide engages the tip 25 of the contact member 21, the latter is rocked upon its Jivot 24k with respect to the contact carrier. liy reason of the connection of the link 2G with the contact member 21 at a point adjacent, or immediately over, the rod lo. which constitutes the t'ulcrum for the contact carrier 291, movement et the latter about its fuleruni, upon the initial engagement o1e thc edge o1 the hide therewith, will not move the link 26, which link is actuated only upon movement ot the contact member 21 about its pivot E211- with respect to the contact carrier when the point 25 is engaged by the edge of the leather. By this arrangement the nieehanism is rendered very accurate,`

since the time of engagement ot the edge oi the leather with the point 25 ot the contact member can be accurately determined and is entirely independent ot the thickness of the material.

The totalizing or cumulating mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, comprises what may be termed a sectional primary cumulating mechanism, cach scction ot which includes a suitable number olI cumulating members and is adapted to accumulate the results ci the operations oi. its several constituent cumulating men'ibers, together with what may be termed a tinal cumulating mechanism l'or totalizing the rcsults accumulated by the several sect-ions olf said primary cmnulating mechanism.

As herein shown, the primary cumulating mechanism comprises two section-z designated in Fig. 1 as A and 13, respectiif'ely. Each section comprises a set ol alined shalt sections 27 (see also 2 and ist) supported by vertical partition plates Q8 which are carried by parallel transverse rodsy 29 secured at their ends in the trame uprights 11. The end shaft sections 270 of eaclrsct are keyed, or otherwise secured against rotation, to their resjieetive supporting` plates 2S, as indicated at 30 in Fig. 1, the remaining shaft sections being joui-nailed .in said plates. Contiguous shaft sections of the several sets are connected by ditierential mechanisms which, as herein shown, are ot the type shown and described in my prior application above reterred to. Each ot' said differential mechanisn'is comprises an initial bevel pinion 31 on one shaft section, a tinal bevel pinion 32 on the other shaft section,

, planetary bevel pinions 33 l'neshing `with the pinions 31 and 3Q, and a ring gear 34 rotatably mounted on one ot' the shaft sections and by which said pinions 3? are carried. An intermediate ring gear 34,() ot each section of the primary cumulating mechanism is operatively connected with the final cumulating mechanism to actuate the latter, while the remaining ring gears 31, which corre lun spoiidlin knumber to the Contact members 2l, constitute" the 'cumulatingf members Whose 'operationis controlled-by said-contact membersrespectivelyf Each shaft section 2T has at one end the final' pinion 32 of one differential mechanism yand atl itsr opposite' end* including that of the ringgear of rtheV dif!- ferential mechanism in question, While the motion imparted tof the ring` gear S40 of -each'section of the primary cumulating mechanism Will bethe sum of the motions of all"of*the ringjgears of that section. From the foregoing it will be understood that motion is communicated tothe differential system through the ring gears 34 and is taken therefrom andy communicated to the final cumulating mechanism through the i ring gears 340.

The' final cumulating mechanism coniprises a differential mechanism similaito that above referred to and includes'alined shaftsections joui-nailed in certain of the partition plates 28V and having on their outer en dsgears 36' meshing with the ring geai's 340,y and bevel pinions 37 on the ad-l jacent ends of said shaft sections, said pinions meshing withy planetary pinions 38 carried by a ring gear 39 adapt-ed 'to actuate a suitable register, not shown.

The mechanism for actuating the ring gears or cumulating members 34 under the control of the contact members 21 will now be desci'ibed. Journalled in the frame uprights 1l aiid partition plates 28, above the ring gears 34, are tivo parallel shafts 40 and 400 connected Wit-h each other by gears 4l and one of which, herein the shaft 40, is connected, as by chain and sprocket gearing, generally indicated at 42, with the bed roll 10, whereby said shafts are continuous-r ly rotated in opposite directions at a speed proportional to the speed of rotation of said bed roll. The shafts 40 and 40() have fast thereon pinions 43 which correspond in number and arrangement to the ring gears 34, alternate piiiions being carried by the shafts 40 and 400, respectively. Meshing with the piiiions 43 are pinions 44 rotatably mounted in carriers in the form of levers 45 fiilcruined on the shafts 40 and 400 and to the free ends of which the upper ends of the several links 26 are connected respectively..

In accordance with the arrangement ofthe pinions 43, alternate levers 45 are fulcrumed respectively on the shafts 40 and 400, and

extend in opposite directions, alternate links rtherebyl depressing the rear ends thereofrl and elevatedpositions, with the pinions 44 out of mesh With'the ring gears 34, as shown in 1 Figa 2, by means of springs 46 connecting. said levers toV fixed parts of the fr'aiiie,=but' are depressed to cause the piiiioi'is' v44 lto v mesh with the respective ring gears84, when the Vforward ends of the corresponding con# tactfmember's 211 are raised by the! leather,

drawing downwardly upon the links 2G against'v the tension' ofthe springs 4G. Since alternate pinions 44 are continuously rotated in opposite directions by the pinioni 421on the continuously" rotating shaftsl 40 and 400, alternate ring gears 34 Will be' similarly rotated, when their respective Contact members are actuated, thereby causing-the totaliaing mechanism to yaccumulate the totaliv of the rotation of all of said gears, as above: explained. lf desired, accidental rotationof the several ring gears in the improper direction may be prevented-*by7 paivis 47.

Having thus described inyinventicn, l claim': p

l. In a leather measuring coinbination.'means for measuring strips of the material ltoy be measured, means come.k

prisiiig a series of" gears for directly cumulatinoV the lenOths ofl said stri s means for actuating said cumulating means` and means rmechanically connected with said measuring means and controlled thereby for connecting said cuiniilating means With said actuating means and disconnecting the same therefrom. f

2. In a l combination, differential mechanisms, contact mechanisms operated by the passage of leather through the machine, a constantly running actuator, and mechanical means operated by said contact mechanisms for causing said actuator to actuate one or more of said differential mechanisms.

3. In a leather measuring machine, in combination, a bed member, a movable contact carrier, a Contact member cooperating with said bed member and inovably supported Vby said contact carrier, .said contact member being displaced by the passage of leather over said bed member, and ciimulating mechanism mechanically connected with said Vcontact member and controlled by displacement thereof relative to said contact carrier.

4. In a leather measuring machine, in combination, a series of contact members actuated by passage of leather through the machine, a series of corresponding cumulatatlier measuring machine, in.

machine, in

lll

ing members, a continuously running actu` ator, and means n'iechanically connected with `the several contact members for oper-` atively connecting the respective cumulating members with said actuator and disconnecting the same therefrom.

5. ln a leather measuring machine, in combination, a series oie contact members, acd tuated by passage of leather through the machine-` a series of differentials in which the `final pinion ofcne differential rotates the initial pinion ot a succeeding difierential, each of Said differentials comprising a ring gear, and means mechanically counected with and controlled by the several contact lnembers tor rotating the several ring gears respectively.

(i. In a leather measuring machine, in combination; a contact member actuated by `passage of leather through the n1a `fhine,a cumnlating member, an actuator Afor `said cumulating member, a carrier ior said actuator with which the latter is movable inn to and ont oi operative engagement with said cnnnilating member, and a link connecting said carrier and contact member ior controlling the movement of the former.

7. In a leather measuring' machine, in combination, a cumnlating member, a pivoted contact carrier, a contact member mmL alolT mounted on Said contact carrier.` and means connected with said contact member adjacent the pivot of said contact carrier for controllingr said cnmulating member.

S. In a leather measuring machine,` in combination, a cumnlating member, means for controlling the actuation thereof, a pivoted contact carrier, a Contact member movably mounted on said contact carrier, and a link connecting said contact member and controlling means, said link being connected with said contact member adjacent the pivot ol said contact 'arriolx il. `'ln a leather meinnuing machine, in coml'iination, a cnmnlating member, a contact carrier comprising a .lever pivoted on a lined fulcriun, a contact member comprising a lever pivoted to said contact carrier at a, point eccentric to Said iulcrum, and means connected with said contact member adjacent said fixed tulcrum for controllingsaid cumnlating member', whercb)r said last named means is actuated only when Said contact member lever moved with respect to said contact carrier lever and not when said levers are moved together.

l0. ln a leather measuring machine, in combination,` a filial cumulating mechanism, a primary cumulating mechanism comprise ingl a plurality ot of aflined shaft sections and dilierential meclninisms connecting the several sections ot each set and each including a ring gear, an intermediate ring` gear of each set being operatively connected with said final cumulatingl mechanism to operate the same, measuring mechanism, and means controlled by said measuring mechanism for operating the remaining ring` gears ot' said primari7 cumulating mechanism.

In testimong7 whereof I allix my signature.

ROBERT J. MCFALL.

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